Supermarkets and retailers are running short on stock of champagne and sparkling wine as congestion at the ports continues to wreak havoc.

Global hold-ups of cargo ships at ports around the world and lengthy unloading delays at Ports of Auckland have been ongoing since October last year.

Ric Little from wine importer and distributor Vintners told Heather du Plessis-Allan it is constantly backing up.

He says that Covid also delayed production in many parts of Europe. 

"We're now looking at about a 20 week lead time to get product out of Europe, with the shipping delays, with the port delays, and with the general impact of Covid, so it's pretty hard."

He says that New Zealand product will remain available for people to drink. 

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